Sipper cap for use with multiple sized receptacle necks

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein a sipper cap for attachment to a plurality of receptacles having necks of varying sizes, wherein the sipper cap comprises a mouthpiece including at least one opening to allow a fluid to pass therethrough from a receptacle into a user&#39;s mouth; a collar attached to said mouthpiece and at least one plug configured to be received within a receptacle neck, wherein the plug includes at least one seal to seal a receptacle neck to prevent leaks.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/192,470 filed on 9 Sep. 2008 and entitled “Sippy Express”.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Parents of small children often place water, soda, juice, milk, or other fluids into what are commonly called sipper cups. These cups typically look like a regular cup, but utilize a cap or lid having a mouthpiece containing small openings to allow the fluid to flow into the child's mouth from the cup. Often times sipper cups will have a pair of handles to facilitate grasping by the often somewhat clumsy small child. The sipper cap prevents the child from spilling the entire cup of fluid and thus saves the parents from having to clean up a lot of mess.

Sipper cups are not always convenient, however. They generally are not considered to be disposable, so oftentimes a parent will be forced to dispose of the liquids they contain and then carry around a dirty cup or to carry around a sipper cup with fluid in it. Since most liquids consumed by small children can be purchased in small but varying receptacle sizes, it would be advantageous if a sipper cap were available that was adaptable to a variety of receptacle sizes. In such a manner, the receptacle—juice, milk or other liquid bottle could be used as the fluid receptacle rather than the cup and then disposed of later, leaving only the sipper cap to be carried around by the parents.

OVERVIEW

There is disclosed herein a sipper cap for attachment to a plurality of receptacles having necks of varying sizes, wherein the sipper cap comprises a mouthpiece including at least one opening to allow a fluid to pass therethrough from the receptacle into a user's mouth; a collar attached to said mouthpiece and at least one plug configured to be received within a receptacle neck, wherein the plug includes at least one seal configured to bear against the interior surface of a receptacle neck to seal the receptacle neck to prevent leaks.

There is further disclosed a sipper cap for attachment to a plurality of receptacles having necks of varying diameters, wherein the sipper cap comprises a mouthpiece including at least one opening to allow a fluid to pass therethrough from a receptacle into a user's mouth; a collar attached to the mouthpiece; and at least one plug configured to be received within a receptacle neck, wherein the plug includes at least one seal configured to bear against the interior surface of a receptacle neck to seal the receptacle neck to prevent leaks.

There is further disclosed herein a method for providing a sipper cap for a plurality of receptacles having varying neck diameters, wherein the method comprises providing a sipper cap comprising a mouthpiece including at least one opening to allow a fluid to pass therethrough from a receptacle into a user's mouth; a collar attached to the mouthpiece; a first plug configured to be received within a first receptacle neck, the plug including at least one seal configured to bear against the interior surface of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom; and a second plug configured to be received within a second receptacle neck having a different diameter than the first receptacle neck, the second plug including at least one seal configured to bear against the interior surface of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom; and inserting the sipper cap into one of the first or second receptacles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a sipper cap as disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a sipper cap as disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is another bottom perspective view of a sipper cap as disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a sipper cap as disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of sipper cap as disclosed herein taken along viewing plane 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is the cross sectional view of FIG. 5 showing a receptacle neck is position within the sipper cap.

FIG. 7 is another side elevation view taken at a ninety degree rotation to the view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of sipper cap as disclosed herein taken along viewing plane 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is the cross sectional view of FIG. 8 showing a receptacle neck in position within the sipper cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

Referring to the various Figures generally, and FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, there is illustrated a sipper cap 10. Sipper cap 10 includes a mouthpiece 12. Mouthpiece 12 is designed to be comfortably received within a small child's mouth and includes at least one flow-through opening 14. As shown in the Figures, a plurality of flow-through openings 14 will generally be provided, though any number and size is acceptable as long as the volume of liquid passing therethrough is not sufficient to overwhelm the child's ability to consume it. The mouthpiece 12 as shown includes a gently sloping transition portion 16 that meets and is connected to a collar 18. The collar 18 provides a readily graspable portion of sipper cap 10 so as to facilitate insertion and removal of the plug into and from, respectively, receptacle necks and to that end includes a plurality of ribs 20 along its periphery so as to ease use of handling of the sipper cap 10.

Looking at the bottom of the sipper cap 10 it will be observed that the sipper cap may include one or more pluggable sections or plugs that can be sealingly inserted into the necks of receptacles such as water, juice, soda, or milk bottles. Thus, with special reference to FIGS. 2-9 two such plugs 22 and 24 are shown. Each of the plugs 22 and 24 include at least one seal that will engage the interior surface of a receptacle neck and provide a seal that prevents leaks or spills from the receptacle when tilted. Thus, plug 22 is shown with seals 26 and 28 while plug 24 is shown with seals 30, 32, and 34. The various seals, because of their varying diameters, will sealingly engage the interiors of receptacle necks of varying sizes thus providing a sipper cap useful for a large variety of receptacles with varying neck diameters.

It will be observed that the plugs 22 and 24 have a slightly tubular or cylindrical configuration with the seals being provided by exterior protuberances thereon. It will also be observed that plug 22 is longer than plug 24 and that plug 24 is circumferentially disposed about plug 22 and spaced apart therefrom by a gap 36. As seen in FIG. 6, a receptacle neck 38 will be received within the gap 36 and plug 22 will be received within the receptacle neck 38 with a seal engaging the interior surface 40 of the receptacle neck. When the first or inner plug is used to seal a receptacle neck, fluid from the receptacle will pass directly through the first plug into the mouthpiece and out of the mouthpiece openings. Stated otherwise, the first or inner plug is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the first or inner plug into the mouthpiece and out of the mouthpiece openings into the user's mouth.

Similarly, it will be observed with reference to FIG. 9 that plug 24 is spaced apart from the interior surface 42 of the collar 18 by a gap 44. When larger diameter receptacle necks are encountered and plug 24 is used, the neck 46 of a receptacle will be received by the gap 44 while the plug 24 will be received within the receptacle neck 46 with a seal engaging the interior surface 48 of the receptacle neck.

Furthermore, it will be observed that when the second plug is used to seal a receptacle neck, that the first plug will also be disposed within the receptacle neck. In such a case, once again the first or inner plug will be in fluid communication with the receptacle, providing a conduit for the passage of fluid from the receptacle to the mouthpiece and the mouthpiece openings. In this instance, some fluid will also enter into the gap 36, but will be retained therein as the receptacle and sipper cap are tilted. When placed upright, the fluid will flow back into the receptacle.

It will be understood that which plug seal engages the interior surface of a receptacle neck will depend upon the diameter of the receptacle neck being used to provide the liquid. It will be further understood that while the Figures herein show two plugs 22 and 24 that a single plug with one or more seals disposed thereon could be provided. Furthermore, should receptacle necks grow larger, then a third plug circumferentially disposed about the second plug could be provided with one or more seals included thereon.

Stated otherwise, the sipper cap as disclosed herein may be made out of plastic for use with commonly available fluid bottles and including a non-valve anti-spill mechanism. Such a sipper cap will be useful for providing fluids to toddlers and children using most ready made plastic or glass bottles that dispense beverages. The sipper cap as disclosed is pluggable but could be modified to be fastened or clipped onto the plastic bottle. The sipper cap as shown includes five different seals to accommodate different plastic or glass bottle necks. Any of these seals can be altered or eliminated or more seals added without changing the concept of the sipper cap as disclosed herein.

The sipper cap as disclosed may be advantageously utilized by parents with toddlers or children at any time and particularly so by those that are travelling or on vacation, at airports, a shopping mall, theme park, gas stations, convenient stores, etc. where beverages can be purchased, thus eliminating the need to carry around a sipper cup, while still providing the child or toddler a safe way of drinking with hardly any mess as a result of spilling.

The embodiments disclosed herein provide a threadless, valveless sipper cap adaptable to various receptacle neck sizes. A friction engagement between the various plugs and their respective seals with the receptacle necks will retain the sipper cap in place, substantially preventing spills from the receptacles and will prevent easy removal of the sipper cap from the receptacle by the user, typically a young child.

The above description and associated figures teach the best mode of the invention. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Note that some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of the invention as specified by the claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described above can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A sipper cap for attachment to a plurality of receptacles having necks of varying sizes, said sipper cap comprising: a mouthpiece including at least one opening to allow a fluid to pass therethrough from a receptacle into a user's mouth; a collar attached to said mouthpiece; and at least one plug configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said plug including at least one seal configured to bear against the interior surface of a receptacle neck to seal the receptacle neck to prevent leaks.
 2. The sipper cap of claim 1 and further comprising: said at least one plug including at least a second seal, wherein the diameters of the at least one seal and the at least a second seal are different and seal different sized receptacle necks.
 3. The sipper cap of claim 2 and further comprising at least a second plug disposed circumferentially about said at least one plug, said at least a second plug having a larger diameter for sealing receptacle necks larger than those sealed by said at least one first plug.
 4. The sipper cap of claim 3 wherein said second plug includes at least a first seal for sealing a first receptacle neck size.
 5. The sipper cap of claim 4 wherein said second plug includes a plurality of seals for sealing a plurality of receptacle neck necks of varying sizes.
 6. The sipper cap of claim 4 wherein said collar includes a plurality of ribs disposed thereabout for providing a user a grip.
 7. The sipper cap of claim 1 and further comprising a second plug disposed circumferentially about said at least one plug, said second plug having a larger diameter for sealing receptacle necks larger than those sealed by said at least one first plug.
 8. The sipper cap of claim 7 wherein said second plug includes at least a first seal for sealing a first receptacle neck size.
 9. The sipper cap of claim 8 wherein said second plug includes a plurality of seals for sealing a plurality of receptacle neck plugs.
 10. The sipper cap of claim 9 wherein said collar includes a plurality of ribs disposed thereabout for providing a user a grip.
 11. A sipper cap for attachment to a plurality of receptacles having necks of varying diameters, said sipper cap comprising: a mouthpiece including at least one opening to allow a fluid to pass therethrough from a receptacle into a user's mouth; a collar attached to said mouthpiece; and at least one plug configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said plug including at least one seal configured to bear against the interior surface of a receptacle neck to seal the receptacle neck to prevent leaks.
 12. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug circumferentially configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said second plug having at least one seal to seal a receptacle neck to prevent leaks.
 13. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug, said second plug having at least one seal to seal a receptacle neck to prevent leaks, wherein said second plug has a length less than said at least one plug.
 14. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said second plug having at least one seal to seal a receptacle neck to prevent leaks, wherein said second plug has a length less than said at least one plug and wherein said second plug is disposed circumferentially about said at least one plug.
 15. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug circumferentially configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said second plug having at least one seal configured to bear against the inside of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom.
 16. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said second plug having at least one seal configured to bear against the inside of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom, said second plug spaced apart from said at least one plug a sufficient distance so as to be able to receive a receptacle neck therebetween.
 17. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug circumferentially configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said second plug having at least one seal configured to bear against the inside of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom, said second plug spaced apart from said collar a sufficient distance so as to be able to receive a receptacle neck therebetween.
 18. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug circumferentially configured to be received within a receptacle neck, said second plug having at least one seal configured to bear against the interior surface of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom, said second plug spaced apart from said collar a sufficient distance so as to be able to receive a receptacle neck therebetween.
 19. The sipper cap of claim 11 and further including a second plug to be received within a receptacle neck, said second plug having at least one seal to seal a receptacle neck to prevent leaks, wherein when said second plug is used to seal a receptacle neck, said first plug will be disposed with the receptacle neck.
 20. A method for providing a sipper cap for a plurality of receptacles having varying neck diameters, said method comprising: providing a sipper cap comprising: a mouthpiece including at least one opening to allow a fluid to pass therethrough from a receptacle into a user's mouth; a collar attached to said mouthpiece; a first plug configured to be received within a first receptacle neck, said plug including at least one seal including at least one seal configured to bear against the inside of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom. a second plug configured to be received within a second receptacle neck having a different diameter than said first receptacle neck, said second plug including at least one seal configured to bear against the inside of a receptacle neck to prevent leaks therefrom; and inserting said sipper cap into one of said first or second receptacles. 